Learning & Teaching

Bringing Best Practice to the Classroom: Dr Nathaniel Swain’s Third Visit to Holy Cross

Following an inspiring Professional Development Day with staff, Holy Cross was privileged to welcome Dr Nathaniel Swain into our classrooms last week. After his initial session with staff, Dr Swain partnered with our Literacy Leader, Zoe Vandenhurk, to deliver a day of classroom modelling and practical demonstrations for our Year 3–6 teaching teams. This hands-on approach allowed staff to see best practice in action, with each session tailored to the specific needs of individual class groups.

The focus of the sessions remained rooted in the Science of Learning, with Dr Swain modelling evidence-based writing instruction strategies. Teachers observed and participated in differentiated lessons designed to meet their children's needs while refining their own instructional practices. By demonstrating techniques such as Explicit Instruction, scaffolded sentence construction, and gradual skill progression, Dr Swain reinforced key writing strategies that teachers could immediately apply in their classrooms.

For our children, the sessions were engaging, interactive, and enriching. Children responded enthusiastically to the structured approach to writing, demonstrating increased confidence and skill in their lessons. Staff, too, left with new insights and actionable strategies to enhance their teaching practice.

A huge thank you to Zoe Vandenhurk for preparing and organising these invaluable professional development sessions. The opportunity to work directly with Dr Swain has strengthened our collective understanding of effective writing instruction, ensuring that all children at Holy Cross continue to develop as confident and capable writers.